Unknown enemy, p.21
Unknown Enemy, page 21
part #1 of Broken Earth Series
Donny’s a pain in the ass, yet still a friend.
He took two bends and stopped. He watched the vehicles enter a compound in the distance. He shut the bike off and rolled it out of view.
"What the fuck?"
It was a walled prison-like camp, like Lee and Donny said they'd seen. As the two vehicles entered the gates, they sealed behind them. Guards were in a tower overhead, and two more walking the perimeter.
"Shit," he said once again.
It was all he could think to say, but he stayed to study them.
"What are you doing with all these people?"
He spotted a few he recognised from town. His instinct was telling him to run. His policy had always been to look after himself and his family, but now Donny and the others seemed more like family than his own mother had.
She’s never around anyway, and even when she is, she mocks me for the way I live.
"I'm coming back, Donny. I promise you, I'm coming back," he whispered.
He kept surveying the scene to learn everything he could. He still barely believed his eyes. There was a shimmer around the tall fences as if the whole thing was electrified somehow. The situation was bad.
He pushed the bike on for a few hundred metres to keep the sound low before push starting it and leaping on. He made his way back to the truck. It was still there and untouched. He tossed the bike into the building, hit the door switch to seal it up, and rushed back to the truck. That's when he spotted the broken mirror on the floor.
"Ah, hell!"
He imagined the grief he was going to get from the monstrous Tucker twins. It seemed so petty in light of the situation they were facing, but he picked it up and threw it into the cab. He jumped inside and stopped for a moment. He realised what he had, a truck full of gas, and enough weapons and ammo to get through anything, a fallout shelter at his back. For a few moments he didn't reach for the ignition, wondering why he wasn't staying.
Then he thought back to Donny, and to his sister, and Burns, too.
We’re all still alive because we’ve been there for each other. They’re just like me. I’m not an outsider or a weirdo anymore.
He smiled as he fired up the engine to go back to his new home. Somewhere he knew he could find help.
Chapter 7
Lee watched carefully as Ramos gave hand signals. He passed them on to Emma, and they went forward as a team.
"Bang, Bang!" Ramos shouted as they neared a crest, and Ortiz and Payne opposed them. They threw up their hands.
"Right on, not bad," said Ortiz with a smile.
Emma was sweating buckets. They'd been at it for hours. Ross strode up to them and clicked the button on his chronograph watch, satisfied with their progress. The sun was going down on what felt like a very long and hard day’s work.
"When we do these exercises, like I told you, we use blanks. Sometimes we even use live ammunition. That's right, live fire drills. It changes the game. It's a whole lot harder to think when rounds are coming down the range at you, the noise and the panic. Your mind is gonna tell you to do something stupid, to run, or hide, maybe to just freeze. Don't listen to it. Remember your training, what little of it you've had."
"You really you think you can make soldiers of us, Sergeant?" Lee asked.
"No, not with the time we've got, but we can make fighters of you. Enough to keep you alive."
"Yeah, and from getting us killed," laughed Ortiz.
"My brother was always better at this playing soldier thing. I thought about it, but he's the natural soldier."
"Anyone who made it this far has what it takes," replied Ross.
"You believe that?"
"Damn right, I do. The whole town has been taken and everyone with it. Anyone who managed to get through that has something going for them."
"Ross, they're back!" Dunn called out.
Emma rushed down the hill, with the others close behind. She expected to find her brother and Donny, but as they got into view of the cabin, they could see Burns and Kim sitting down with a cup of water each. She slowed down. She was keen to see them, but it wasn't what she was hoping for. That’s when she saw how worn out they looked. Not just physically, but mentally.
"Guys, what...what..."
"What did you see out there?" Ortiz asked, as she couldn't find her words.
"The town is gone," said Kim.
"What do you mean, gone?" Lee asked.
"Soldiers must have swept through there. Killed anyone who resisted. Cop station has been burnt to the ground, and the deputies gunned down in the street. People have been rounded up. Put in some camp nearby," added Burns.
His face turned to puzzlement. They were not half as shocked to hear the news as he’d expected.
"You already knew?" Kim asked.
"About Davis? No. But people put into camps, yeah, we heard," replied Emma.
"What? Where?" Burns asked.
"Just outside of town."
"Outside of our town? Outside of Wood Point?"
He could see from their faces that it was true, and the look of concern equally as visible on the faces of the soldiers among them.
"It's not too late to get out. Load up some vehicles and drive on out," said Kim.
"The only way out on wheels is right past town. We'd never make it," said Ross.
"So that's it, we're just gonna give up?"
"Nobody said anything about giving up, Lee," insisted Emma.
"Sounds like it to me."
"Then all of this was for nothing," replied Foster.
"It's only for nothing if we stop fighting." Emma looked to Ross. "That's right, isn't it?"
He didn't seem to have any words to comfort or support her.
"You see, it's hopeless, all this army crap was for nothing."
"So what you gonna do, go hand yourself into one of those camps?" Ortiz asked.
"We might as well, before we get ourselves killed."
"You're a damn coward, Foster!"
"Screw you, you don't care about this town!"
"Wow, wow!" Emma leapt between them as they raced toward one another, but Lee knocked her aside. She landed hard and cried out in pain. Lee stopped, looking down at what he had done. Before he could say anything the sound of an engine rang out around them.
"At last!" Lem saw their truck returning.
Lee extended his hand to help Emma up, but she ignored it, and got up herself.
"Screw you, asshole," she muttered and went to greet her brother.
"What have you done to our baby?"
Lem noticed the missing mirror. But Donny missing stood out more to the rest of them.
"Where's my brother?"
"Gone, he was taken."
Lee raced up to him, grabbed hold of his shirt, and slammed him up against the truck.
"What do you mean taken? What did you do?"
"Easy now, Lee!" Ramos yelled.
"Get off me, asshole!"
Miles struggled to get free, but Lee smashed him back up against the vehicle. Miles wasn't going to stand for it and thrust his knee up into Lee's stomach. The hard strike released his grip, and he swung a punch, catching him on the jaw. It sent him tumbling back, even though he managed to stay on his feet.
"Lee!" Emma shouted, but that wasn't going to stop him. Miles held up his hands, showing he didn't want a fight.
"I did what I could, okay? But I know where he is!"
Lee stopped short, but the scene was still tense.
"What do you mean you know where he is?" Ross demanded.
"Your brother was taken while we were loading up. They got the jump on him."
"But not you?"
"They didn't see me."
"So you just let him get taken?"
"Easy now, let him speak," said Ross.
He held out his hand to divide them. Lee was bleeding from the mouth and looked furious, and Miles looked ready to run from them.
"Miles, tell us what you saw," Emma pleaded.
"Last I saw him, he was knocked out cold."
"But he was alive?"
"Far as I could tell, Lee, yes. They loaded him up in what looked like a prison wagon. I trailed them back to a site in the middle of nowhere, some kind of prison. But nothing that was there before. This was of their making, whatever the hell they are."
The group fell silent, realising how bad things were. Kim slowly got up to address them. She looked at each of their faces and could see how empty they were. There was sorrow and loss, and a sense of defeat among them.
"So the surrounding area has fallen, and there is no way out?" Burns asked.
"That about sums it up, yeah," replied Ramos.
"Then it seems pretty obvious what we need to do."
Everyone clung to his words, desperate for some answers, a path forward. Ross wished he had it, but he'd never been in this position before. He adapted to situations, but always with someone to back him up in the end.
"We have people that need help," said Kim.
"Our people, and they need our help," added Burns.
"We've got a war on our hands. A war that might even be over," replied Ramos.
"Then what have we got to lose?" replied Burns.
"I won't believe this fight is over, I can't. There are people still fighting out there, and we have to do the same," insisted Kim.
Ross looked to Lee and the others, kids in his eyes. But Lee stared at Emma, clearly feeling shame for hurting her, and forgetting all she’d done for them.
"This is our town. We'll fight for it."
"So what are we doing here?"
"What did you come back here for? That's what I want to know," replied Lee.
Miles took a deep breath, deciding how he should respond. The people before him were everything to him.
"After your brother was taken, I thought about going it alone. I’m not gonna lie. That truck is loaded with enough gear to do that."
"But you didn't?" Burns asked.
"No, because when I needed help, you came for me. None of us can make it through this alone. No man is an island. I used to think that was bullshit, but now I get it. I got along by myself while things were good, but now..."
"None of us can stand alone," said Ross.
"Right."
"So what now?" Kim asked.
Ross stepped up, finally content that they were of one mind, and he wasn't ready to go anywhere but here.
"We've got a man down. We won't leave him to the enemy."
"What about Wood Point?"
"One step at a time, Emma."
"So what do we do?"
"We can't hit the town, Kim, so we'll do the next best thing. There are three of these detention camps we know about. People from the town have been imprisoned. I bet given half a chance, the people of Wood Point will fight back. They'll resist."
"Damn right they would," insisted Lee.
"So we free them. We need an army. Let's get one."
"Three targets, which do we hit?" Kim asked.
Ross looked to Lee and Miles.
"I didn't want to leave your brother. I'll fight to get him back."
Lee held out his fist, and Miles hit it with his own.
"You're a fucking crazy asshole, but you're all right."
"Then it's decided," said Kim.
Ross smiled as he shook his head.
"What is it?"
"Just this, Emma. Something I've missed. Something I've not felt in many years."
"What's that?"
"You get to do my job, and you only really know a few guys well. But in the early days, there were more."
"This thing you have with your guys, it's like a family, isn't it?"
"Damn straight," replied Ortiz.
Ross smiled. He could annoy the hell out of them all at times, but this time he was right.
"This town, it's family, and you're a part of it now," said Emma.
"How long do we have?" Dunn asked, as if breaking up the party.
"We don't know. We don't even know what they're doing at these damn camps," replied Kim.
"The morning, then." Ross looked out to see the sun going down, "We've got to hit this base with everything we've got, and I don't want to do it when those monsters are around." He was thinking of the hulking creatures they had fought at night.
"You sure this is a good idea?"
"No, it's not, Martin, but what is?" replied Kim.
Ross nodded in agreement.
"I wish I knew what was the right decision here, but I know what makes sense. We have people down. People captive. Civilians, but they could be fighters, just like these kids." Ross gestured towards Lee and his football players, and Emma and her brother.
"We can't take the town back, no way in hell," said Ortiz.
"No, but we can make a start," replied Ross.
"How, how can we fight against this?"
"One bit at a time, Emma," replied Burns.
"What?"
"One bit at a time. We're outnumbered. Outgunned. We've lost our homes, but this country is still ours. We aren't done yet."
"But we've lost everything."
"Everything?" Ross was angry, "You're still alive, Foster, and we've still got each other. Now, as far as I am concerned, we have a man down. I'm not going to let that stand, are you?"
He looked sheepish, but still defiant.
"We're a dozen against God knows how many."
"Yeah? You know how many countries have been invaded and seemingly lost before the inhabitants fought back? It can take months, or years. But it can be done, if you are willing to fight for what's yours and for each other. The question is, are you?" Ross looked around at each of them.
"What are you asking of us?"
"Emma, we know where Donny is being held. We may not be able to take back ground, but we can take back our people. I say we hit the facility Miles tracked 'em back to. Hit it, get Donny, and free as many as we can."
Everyone was silent, thinking what it could mean. Nobody was under any illusions about how much of a risk that would be.
"You're talking about a strike against a defended facility?"
"Yes, Dunn."
"I mean, we've hit a couple of patrols, and made it through a few more firefights, but you're talking about a completely different level here."
"Yes, I am."
"I'm in," replied Emma confidently.
"Yes, me, too," Burns added his support.
They were all surprised to see her step up fearlessly and waited for what she had to say.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't want to do this. It scares the shit out of me. But we can't hide out here forever. The longer we wait, the stronger a foothold they get on this valley, or that's the way I figure it. Am I wrong, Sergeant?"
"We still know very little about what's happening across the country, but we know this spreads much wider than Wood Point. An invasion force is spread thin at the start of an operation. Maybe, just maybe, if we catch them now early, we might stand a chance."
"Take the fight to them where they are least expecting it?"
"You're up for this, Miles?"
Lee was surprised that a man he saw a coward was so eager to fight for his brother and others before he had even stepped up.
"I did everything I could to keep your brother safe, and you have my word that I won't stop trying to do that anytime soon. Whoever these assholes are that have come here, it’s time we take back a little of what's ours."
"And if it's hopeless? If we're just running to our deaths?" Foster asked.
"Then it was probably going to happen soon enough anyway," replied Ramos.
"He's right, " Burns agreed, "They're taking ground fast and will be coming for us soon enough. Better we strike on our terms before they have a chance."
"How many do you think were in this camp?" Ross asked Miles.
"Not that many from what I could see. A few dozen at most, it looked pretty small. But with capacity for a lot more."
"Then I say we hit it at first light."
"A day's training, and you think we're ready to assault a fortress?"
"You're not ready, Foster, but you're gonna have to be."
"And if we get ourselves killed?"
"Then you won't be around to regret it, will you?" Ortiz answered him.
"Fuck it, then. This is crazy, I'm in."
Lee looked to Miles to see his response.
"What'll it be?"
"I'm with you till the end."
Lee held out his hand, and Miles took it.
"Let's do this, together."
"All right, Dunn, Ortiz, you're with me. We’ll recon the site before we bed down. I want weapons checked and ready, and a plan in place before the day is out. We strike at first light. Everyone clear?"
Chapter 8
"You see that?" Ortiz looked out from cover at a single enemy soldier. Foster and Lee were with him.
"Sentry?"
Ortiz nodded to Lee. He held up his hand, gesturing as if it were a pistol.
"Bam," he whispered.
The faint wisp of a silenced round rang out, and the robot went down. Ortiz was smiling as they saw Dunn covering them from a raised position twenty metres back.
"You enjoy your work, don't you?"
"Got to enjoy the little things, Foster."
"Or dwell on the fact that we might have lost our country?"
"Something like that."
"It's not lost, not while we fight."
"Sure, if you say so, Lee."
There was a glimmer of movement ahead, and another sentry appeared. It was close to spotting the body of the other when another near silent shot rang out, and it too went down.
"He's a hell of a shot," said Lee.
"Come on, prone with a rifle like that, I could take that shot."
"You've practiced against moving targets, have you?" Ortiz asked.
Foster fell silent as they looked over to Ross' position on the far side of the trail leading to the camp. He was hidden behind a broad tree as two sentries approached. He had his pistol in hand with the suppressor fitted, and they were getting close. He let them pass, and stepped out, taking aim at the back of their heads from a metre away. He fired at the first, and it went down right away. But the other turned sharply as he moved his weapon across. His second round glanced its head, but Olsen appeared seemingly from nowhere and fired a shot, killing it instantly.
